New Orleans Saints 2012 opponents have been determined

The Associated PressThe New Orleans Saints will travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers next season.

Thanks to the whims of the NFL scheduling formula, the New Orleans Saints will have to make a second trip to Green Bay to play the Packers next season.

In fact, depending on what happens in the NFC playoffs, next season's trip could be the Saints' third to Lambeau Field in a one-year span. Before this year's season opener on Sept. 8, won by the Packers 42-34, the Saints had played only three games in the hallowed stadium.

The rematch with the Packers will highlight the Saints' 2012 schedule, of which the opponents have now been determined thanks to the Saints' NFC South division title.

As usual, the Saints will play home and away games against their three NFC South opponents: Atlanta; Carolina; and TampaBay. They'll also play each team in the NFC East and AFC West, according to the divisional rotation in the scheduling formula.

The league will announce the dates and times for each game when it releases the entire league schedule in April.

Meantime, here are the eight home and road opponents for the Saints in 2012